Things I'm happy about today

#3,830
#3,830
VolNExile said:
Super fun in the 20-30 mph gusts.
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Once, ~20 years ago, ground winds were light and variable. The uppers were starting to rip, though, and we knew a front was coming, one that would be pushing higher winds as its herald. We kept jumping. Load after load went up, and parachutists landed safely without any trouble. Five of us went up for a formation skydive. The plane had thirteen jumpers on the load. Our freefall was OK. We made five points (formations) before break. Under canopy, we immediately noticed the difference. The air was unpredictable, roiling at 2,000'. Those of us with experience realized the downdrafts would create rotors off the tree lines and set up to land as near midfield as we could. I unhooked the RSL clasp at the bases of my right main riser. I slid in without incident, pulling hard on my right toggle as soon as I was on the ground in order to keep my main canopy from reinflating and dragging me around. Some coming in behind our group weren't so lucky. One got pushed into the trees. She got lucky. Her canopy bounced off, and she collapsed onto the ground with an ugly PLF. She avoided injury. Another stood up their landing, only to be dragged backwards by his main. He was saved by another jumper who had landed long and was in position to collapse the canopy of the hapless fellow in tow.

Yeah, I didn't make that mistake again.
 
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#3,833
#3,833
Tin Man said:
Once, ~20 years ago, ground winds were light and variable. The uppers were starting to rip, though, and we knew a front was coming, one that would be pushing higher winds as its herald. We kept jumping. Load after load went up, and parachutists landed safely without any trouble. Five of us went up for a formation skydive. The plane had thirteen jumpers on the load. Our freefall was OK. We made five points (formations) before break. Under canopy, we immediately noticed the difference. The air was unpredictable, roiling at 2,000'. Those of us with experience realized the downdrafts would create rotors off the tree lines and set up to land as near midfield as we could. I unhooked the RSL clasp at the bases of my right main riser. I slid in without incident, pulling hard on my right toggle as soon as I was on the ground in order to keep my main canopy from reinflating and dragging me around. Some coming in behind our group weren't so lucky. One got pushed into the trees. She got lucky. Her canopy bounced off, and she collapsed onto the ground with an ugly PLF. She avoided injury. Another stood up their landing, only to be dragged backwards by his main. He was saved by another jumper who had landed long and was in position to collapse the canopy of the hapless fellow in tow.

Yeah, I didn't make that mistake again.
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#3,847
#3,847
Orange Sunset said:
@vollygirl Real quick check in to let everyone know I’m still alive. Don’t have time to @ everyone to this message or respond to any notifications. Been thru hell the past 6 months including death threats. I’m good & safe. Will check back in when I can
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Glad to hear that you are alive and Kicking......stay safe
 
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